Lawrence letter carriers soon will be running a food drive that they hope will collect nearly 30,000 pounds of food for area families.

The local chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers has announced that it will hold its annual food drive on May 9. Households will receive information in the mail during the first week of May about the event. Individuals are encouraged to set out canned or dry goods next to their mail boxes, and letter carriers will collect the food and deliver it to the local food bank Just Food.

The food drive, which has been a Lawrence tradition for more than 20 years, normally collects between 20,000 to 25,000 pounds of food, said John Hamilton, president of the local branch of the letter carriers association. He said the group hopes to near the 30,000 pound mark this year.

“We want to do our part to help the people of Douglas County,” Hamilton said. “I don’t care what your situation is. You should never have to go hungry.”